Former Cessnock MP Stan Neilly has passed away this week at the age of 79.
Mr Neilly was born in Abermain and joined the Labor Party in 1959, the same year his father was elected as the state member for Cessnock.
He later served as the state member himself from 1981 to 1988, and then again from 1991 to 1999.
Current Cessnock MP Clayton Barr commemorated the loss in a Facebook post, writing that Mr Neilly had served the region his whole life.
"Nearly everyone around here has a story about Stan doing them a favour, or helping them sort out a problem," Mr Barr wrote.
"He gave his time to dozens of local groups who needed some advice or needed someone to run an eye over the books."
Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon described him as a "smart, effective & hard working MP".
"Stan Neilly's passing is a very sad loss for the community," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"He was a person always helping others, but never sought any credit or thanks for his work."
